BMW M5 tires

[OVERKILL]

This is a little premature, but I figured I'd ask.

Car currently has Michelin Pilot Sport tires on it. They seemed very grippy on the test drive. I have not had the luxury to drive on them a lot however.

When they are due for replacement, should I just go with the same tires again?

 

[oggb]

If you don't mind paying for them - sure.

 

[d00df00d]

Original Pilot Sport?

It's never a bad thing to go back to the OE spec tires to preserve the character of the car and the attributes with which the suspension was designed to work. Otherwise, what's the point with a car like this, right?

On the flip side, later models (the Pilot Sport PS2 and Pilot Sport 3) are improvements in every respect: grip, ride, response, etc. If you do switch from the original tires, switch to one of those.

I have PS2s on my car (got them on sale). They swiftly and decisively destroyed my willingness to buy cheap tires ever again.

 

[CapriRacer]

I think it is way, way too early to be asking questions like this. Put some miles on them so you know what you like and what you don't like - THEN ask.

 

[d00df00d]

Originally Posted By: JRed
If you don't mind paying for them - sure.

People who do mind paying usually don't own such cars for long. Either they get tired of shelling out the money, or they use substandard parts and cause the car to perform poorly and/or deteriorate quickly. Food for thought.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: d00df00d
Original Pilot Sport?

It's never a bad thing to go back to the OE spec tires to preserve the character of the car and the attributes with which the suspension was designed to work. Otherwise, what's the point with a car like this, right?

On the flip side, later models (the Pilot Sport PS2 and Pilot Sport 3) are improvements in every respect: grip, ride, response, etc. If you do switch from the original tires, switch to one of those.

I have PS2s on my car (got them on sale). They swiftly and decisively destroyed my willingness to buy cheap tires ever again.


I doubt they are the "original" tires to the car, but they may be the original spec tires for it. I'll get you the model when I see the car again.

I'm a big Michelin fan. And I don't mind paying for Michelin tires.

My sister went cheap on the tires for her 535i, and then ended up back with a new set of pilots because the cheap tires she bought scared her. I think they were Fuzions or something? They may have even been Nangkang, something junky.

I ask because I had a set of Yokohama's on the Lincoln (don't laugh, LOL) They were similar in size and tread pattern to the Pilot's and I used them for a number of years (still have them, they are on a set of 17x9 Cobra R's) and I found they were a FANTASTIC tire. Stuck like glue no matter how hard I pushed it through turns (remember, the Lincoln isn't stock even though the premise of the yacht handling is funny) I can get the model of them if that helps, they are in the basement.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: CapriRacer
I think it is way, way too early to be asking questions like this. Put some miles on them so you know what you like and what you don't like - THEN ask.


Fair enough.

 

[dparm]

Pilot Sports are old at this point. There are new tires that are cheaper and better. The PS is holding its own still given its age but it's not really the benchmark anymore, in my opinion...especially for what they charge.

 

[HTSS_TR]

I agree, Pilot Sport is more than 6-7 years old design, it was the top of the Max-Performance Summer then, but the new king is Continental ExtremeContact DW.

 

[rjundi]

I would visit a M5 forum specific to your vehicle. You can lots of opinions very specific to your vehicle. It not like you are considering a plebian Civic, Focus or Elantra. The truth is even mediocre tires can seem really grippy on a car like this due to superior suspension design if its not too worn down.

That is the unfortunate thing about BMW, when the suspensions get worn they are nothing special and expensive to bring back to life.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: rjundi
.

That is the unfortunate thing about BMW, when the suspensions get worn they are nothing special and expensive to bring back to life.


Really? M car maybe, but my 91 318i still handles like a champ, even with a creaky subframe bushing...

A lot of the folks driving 135i's are moving to the PS2 with great results. I assume the application here is an E39?

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: rjundi
.

That is the unfortunate thing about BMW, when the suspensions get worn they are nothing special and expensive to bring back to life.


Really? M car maybe, but my 91 318i still handles like a champ, even with a creaky subframe bushing...

A lot of the folks driving 135i's are moving to the PS2 with great results. I assume the application here is an E39?


Yes, it is an E39.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
This is a little premature, but I figured I'd ask.
Car currently has Michelin Pilot Sport tires on it. They seemed very grippy on the test drive. I have not had the luxury to drive on them a lot however.
When they are due for replacement, should I just go with the same tires again?


I'm on my fifth set of tires in 60k miles. I am currently looking at Hankook Ventus V12. I love the Pilot line, but they are going out of this world on their new prices.

 

[JHZR2]

Chinese/Korean tires? No thanks.

Don't play if you can't pay.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Chinese/Korean tires? No thanks.

Don't play if you can't pay.


Precisely. I've had good luck with Yokohama in the past, but also with Michelin. However this is a completely different car than what I've used them on.

 

[Volvohead]

Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
I agree, Pilot Sport is more than 6-7 years old design, it was the top of the Max-Performance Summer then, but the new king is Continental ExtremeContact DW.


Until the Conti bubbles, blows out a sidewall, and snaps a $400 wheel rim. Then it's an expensive goat. Contis have soft sidewalls. I'm not touching one under a 50 series for any serious hardcore driving. And some are balancing nightmares. Too much production variation at this performance strata for my taste.

"Better" is a matter of opinion. I'll go with a Michelin where construction quality and consequences of tire failure are most important.

I'm running a 5+ year old set of the original PS A/S, and they are still a quiet, nimble, very communicative tire with great grip and plenty of tread left. Never a bubble, problem or issue with them. Yes, they cost more than a Conti or GY, but I absolutely got a better long-term value with them.

 

[Volvohead]

Originally Posted By: d00df00d
Originally Posted By: JRed
If you don't mind paying for them - sure.

People who do mind paying usually don't own such cars for long. Either they get tired of shelling out the money, or they use substandard parts and cause the car to perform poorly and/or deteriorate quickly. Food for thought.


Agreed. If one can't afford the maintenance, they can't really afford the car.

Go with a newer PS3 perhaps, but don't slap budget rubber on vehicles of this type to save money. It's like wearing Thom McAn shoes with a Sy Devore suit.

 

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
I ask because I had a set of Yokohama's on the Lincoln (don't laugh, LOL) They were similar in size and tread pattern to the Pilot's and I used them for a number of years (still have them, they are on a set of 17x9 Cobra R's) and I found they were a FANTASTIC tire. Stuck like glue no matter how hard I pushed it through turns (remember, the Lincoln isn't stock even though the premise of the yacht handling is funny) I can get the model of them if that helps, they are in the basement.


Certain max performance Yok models are actually even 'grippier' than the Peelow K, people!!) Sports.

Now I cannot vouch for their toughness/durability, or sidewall strength, over 'road hazards'/craters and such vs. the Michelins.

 

[d00df00d]

Originally Posted By: dailydriver
Certain max performance Yok models are actually even 'grippier' than the Peelow K, people!!) Sports.

This is worth noting. There certainly do seem to be tires that do some things better than Pilot Sports, and/or perform better in certain sizes.

As far as I can tell, what makes the Pilot Sport series special is not necessarily that it's the best at any one thing, but that it's among the best at all things, in all sizes. Presumably that (or something like it) is why they're so bloody expensive.

 

[hattaresguy]

PS2's or PS3's are good, make for expensive burn outs LOL!

My friend has had good luck with Dunlop SP9000's on his S600.